There is a reason why Brazil has five stars on their soccer jersey: they have won five world cup titles, more than any other country, making them arguably the best soccer nation in the world.
The reasons why Brazilians are so exceptional in soccer stem mostly from elements that are inherent in their culture and include:
- A ‘ginga’ playing style
- Playing ‘pelada’ soccer
- Living for soccer
- Playing futsal
- Growing up in poverty
- Being inspired by the greats
Table of Contents
- A Ginga Playing Style
- Playing Pelada Soccer
- Playing Futsal
- Living For Soccer
- Growing Up In Poverty
- Being Inspired By The Greats
A Ginga Playing Style
Directly translated, ‘ginga’ means to swing or sway. Think about how mesmerizing it is to watch Brazilian soccer players when they dribble and juggle the ball rhythmically with their feet and head or when they perform their incredible trickery on the ball – that is ginga.
You can compare the ginga style of play to a type of soccer dance based on a combination of samba, capoeira, and malandragem. Many Brazilian soccer players mimic these actions in their play.
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance performed solo, as a pair, or in a group. It requires dancers to keep primarily upright, with their knees slightly bent, performing bouncing actions and rolling of the hips.
The samba can be both a fast-paced and a slow dance. That’s why you will notice Brazilian soccer players playing with quick, bouncing movements and sometimes walking as they approach an opponent with the ball.
Capoeira
Capoeira combines dance and martial arts, requiring athleticism, strength, and grace. The capoeira mixes slow and fast movements, high and low kicks, attack and defense, and plenty of acrobatics.
Brazilians usually perform these elements to the sound of music but also incorporate them into the movements and skills on the field.
Malandragem
Malandragem means trickery. In soccer, malandragem is a contentious topic, as many soccer critics dislike this style of play and see it as disrespectful.
What’s disrespectful about having the skill to nutmeg (i.e., beat the defender by pushing the ball through the defender’s legs)? What’s rude about a player being able to ‘rainbow flick’ an opponent (i.e., collecting the ball behind you and then flicking it over yours and the opponent’s heads)?
It is bewitching to watch Brazilian soccer players like Neymar apply malandragem by passing the ball with deception, first looking one way and then passing in a different direction. That’s why it’s called the ‘jogo bonito’ or a beautiful game in Brazil.
Playing Pelada Soccer
Pelada is a casual or pick-up game of soccer, where there is no age limit nor restrictions on the number of players if it is practical. There are also very few rules, making for a challenging game that develops your awareness and resilience.
Kids typically play pelada in the streets of poorer areas or where they can find a makeshift soccer pitch. This type of play requires younger players to develop skills like protecting themselves against tackles from older players. Young, smaller players must be constantly aware of the dangers around them and become soccer smart if they don’t match the physicality of their opponents.
There are also no set soccer rules in pelada. A free kick or a foul is usually only awarded when a player is visibly injured and most likely drawing blood. There is generally no concern for field size or attire, so it does not matter whether you have shoes.
Playing Futsal
Brazilians love playing futsal, an indoor version of soccer on a smaller pitch. Futsal focuses on ball control, fast bursts of speedy passes, and tons of creativity to beat your opponent.
Playing lots of futsal growing up, thus, develops additional skills in Brazilians that translate well into the traditional soccer game.
Living For Soccer
Soccer, to Brazilians, is more than a culture – it’s a religion, like how cricket is a ‘religion’ in India. This passion for soccer in Brazil has been prevalent since the beginning of the 1900s but reached new heights in the 1960s when the country was experiencing political turmoil.
Come 1969, the military took over political governance in Brazil and the people turned to their only solace: soccer. Political powers at the time saw the soccer team as a cash cow and realized they could provide revenue for a struggling nation.
Critics and pundits still debate whether the 1970 Brazilian World Cup soccer team, led by arguably the most outstanding player Pelé, was the country’s best team of all time. Regardless of your opinion, there is no team as loved and admired in Brazil as the team of 1970.
The team brought the Brazilians victory, beating all other teams in the competition, and gave the people hope and reason to celebrate during political uncertainty. That following, to the point where people almost worship the game, is still being passed down from generation to generation. This passion makes most youngsters want to play and excel at the game.
Growing Up In Poverty
Pelé once said: “The boy who has an easy life doesn’t have a chance in football because he doesn’t know the value of a plate of food.”
Brazil is a developing nation with many ‘favelas’ (shanty towns) scattered throughout the country. This poverty is no fault of the children, yet they become part of it and must bear the consequences.
As a result, many young Brazilians grow up having a tough life, having to work at a young age to help their family put food on the table. Some turn to drugs, becoming users or dealers, which earns them easy money.
Yet the one thing that has always been a common denominator among children from different backgrounds is soccer. Soccer is not limited by poverty since you can play barefoot in the streets using rolled newspaper, socks, or an empty bottle as a ball.
This lack of privilege develops a different skill set in kids playing on inadequate surfaces with hardly any gear. They must adapt and work harder to control the ball and play on rocks and sand than those learning to play on proper fields and with the appropriate attire.
Although poverty harms youth, many see soccer in Brazil as an escape and a way out of their hardships. Young Brazilian kids have to be more dedicated and develop resilience, hoping to make it big in soccer, allowing them a better life.
Brazilian soccer stars that once came from ‘favelas’ and dreamed of a better life through soccer include Romario, Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Douglas Luiz, Neymar, Robinho, Ronaldo, Dani Alves, Ronaldinho, and many others.
Being Inspired By The Greats
One final reason Brazilians are good at soccer is their admiration for the greats that have all come from Brazil. Young hopefuls, with their love of soccer and hunger for a better life, look up to prosperous past and present players, making them work harder at perfecting their skills.
Brazil boasts many players that inspire their compatriots, with kids and adults emulating their heroes on and off the field. No player fits this description better than Pele.
Pele is the epitome of a great soccer player. His style and grit exemplify why Brazilian soccer is so great. Kids growing up in the 1970s and 80s emulated his style of play and were motivated to reach a similar level of success.
In modern times, iconic players have been the likes of Neymar, Casemiro, Fabinho, and Gabriel Jesus, to name a few. All these players grew up with exceptional Brazilian soccer role models, ensuring they had tangible working goals.
